Free Finds: Holiday Cheer

The best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear! Elf, anyone? Anyone?

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope you gorged yourself on turkey and had a wonderful time with distant relatives.  I personally did just that at a table of 41 distant relatives, which at first was overwhelming, but as the night and wine went on it became terribly amusing.

But now that Thanksgiving has passed, it is now socially acceptable to put up lights and sing Christmas carols!!  It's my favorite time of year, and what better way to celebrate than to take advantage of all of the free things happening in Boston this week!  This is an extension of the previous post on Faneuil Hall (which you should still do!), but there is even more happening around the city this week that you should check out!

On Thursday, December 4, tomorrow, from 6-8pm there is the annual tree lighting in the Boston Common which will feature Mayor Walsh, Santa, figure skating, cheerleaders, and plenty of Christmas music.  It's going to be a gay ole time!

Next, and this is quite the event, is The Annual Santa Speedo Run on Saturday, December 6 from 1-1:30pm on Newbury and Boylston Streets between Berkeley and Gloucester.  This is a hilarious event that happens every year, it's absolutely free but it takes place as a fundraiser for children in need, so you can support the cause and learn more here. 

There is also a great family event happening at Quincy Place in Faneuil Hall December 6, 13, and 20th from 11 am - 12 pm, there will be an interactive reading of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  Read more here.

From December 8-22, there is an exhibition on gingerbread houses at BSA Space, where local architects and engineers put their imagination to work to create some truly amazing gingerbread house.  Read more about it here.

Don't miss these exciting holiday events!

Taste a Bit of Boston History at the Union Oyster House!

Stop by the Union Oyster House for a delicious meal with a side of history! It's one of the oldest restaurants around and is located right near Faneuil hall on the freedom trail! The seafood dishes are amazing here. Try the Lobster ravioli or the Lobster Scampi, they're both soo good! And you can't go wrong with a cup of New England Clam Chowder or Clams Casino for an Appetizer.

 

 

 

And for Dessert ..

 

 

Check out the dessert eatery called Finale! This place is located on Columbus Ave. My absolute favorite dessert here is the Molten Cake. Yumm!



A Taste of France Right in Boston

Assembly Row - Boston

Paul Bakery - Assembly Row

Bonjour Boston! The list of the best bakeries in Boston has just been renewed. Paul Bakery is one of the best combinations of bakery, patisserie, boulangerie, and cafe in Europe and it is finally in our city. And we couldn't be happier. You will know what the fuss is about once you drop by.

Paul Bakery Coffee

There's nothing better than the smell of fresh, steaming warm bread in the morning.  If you're not a bread lover like myself, do not fret, because Paul's patisserie offers a variety of delectable and irresistible delicacies. If you ever wondered what a good bread, croissant, or coffee should taste like--this is definitely your starting point. Start your day with a cappuccino accompanied with a delicate croissant, or one of the many desserts and pastries they offer. Paul's Menu includes salty treats and sandwiches to fill any appetite.

The tradition has its roots in 1889 in rue de la Mackellerie in Croix, near Lille, France where it started as a small bakery. While staying true to its humble French artisan origins it later incorporated a patisserie and a cafe. The bread is baked daily using traditional, time-honored methods. The quality, taste and presentation till now has been phenomenal.

Cappuccino -- Crème-filled Napoleon

The authentic French cuisine is simply art. I would definitely recommend trying a signature chocolate crêpe or a crème-filled Napoleon--the sweet odor will lure you and the mouthwatering taste will leave you yearning for more and more. Paul's bakery will satisfy more than your palate.

Chocolate Crêpe

The french ambiance, ranging from the antique chandeliers to the classical music that is nowhere heard in typical American settings, will warm and delight your heart. Paul intrinsically captures two eras of the French lifestyle, the classical and the modern. The, tables, chairs, paintings and walls exude a unique feel that travel someone to a different place and time. (Starbucks --the bar is now raised high.)

Paul Bakery - Assembly Row, Boston

Paul's is truly pleasant and clean. The cafe is very well organized and the stuff is very friendly, especially in their white chef uniforms which we absolutely love. So stop by and get a taste of a real french cafe.
They are located at 631 Assembly Row. Somerville, MA. Soon another location will serve at the Natick Mall, 1245 Worcester St. Natick, MA.

For more information visit their website Paul Bakery.
Directions to Somerville Location.
Directions to Natick Location.

As always, stay with us for the next wonderful thing happening in the Bean-Town.

 À tout a l'heure!

Entertainment: Best Comedy in Boston!

Who’s ready for a good laugh?! It seems that Laugh Boston has been the talk of the town lately. Laugh Boston is a new comedy venue that offers plenty of entertainment throughout the week. It is located in the Westin Hotel in a very open and beautiful space.

Not only does is offer a night of laughter from standup, to improv, to karaoke, it also has a full bar and food menu! It is said that the best nights to go are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Check out the schedule here!

Free Finds: Faneuil Hall

To any native Bostonians, this should be a given, but Faneuil Hall Marketplace is definitely a place you need to check out in the next month.  Last night Faneuil Hall had its annual Tree Lighting Spectacular where they unveiled the 90 foot Christmas tree (the tallest in the Northeast, take that NYC!) with over 30,000 Christmas lights.

Here is a video from the 2012 tree lighting, but be warned, the video is loud so make sure you turn down your speakers a bit first!


Now of course Faneuil Hall is free to visit, but so are all of the holiday events that are taking place over the next month or so.  If you have time, you need to check out at least a few of these!

My personal favorite is the daily light show, called Blink!, that takes places every night from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m..  The show features a wonderful light show to the sound of the Holiday Boston Pops and restarts every 30 minutes.

There are also (free) events all month such as visiting Santa, ice sculptures, and an abundance of musical performances.  To see more on specifics check out FaneuilHallMarketplace.com, there's a lot to see!


(Photo courtesy of boston.cbslocal.com)


Read more about holiday events at: www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com

Happy Holidays!

PaintNite re-unites grownup middleschoolers.

PUI is totally legal. 

Plan Your Nite: Schedule

Gallery: View the Fun 

For most of you middle school may have been the last time you looked at a canvas while holding a painting brush. That time has come again. But this time around as a grown up. Boston's Paint Nite will bring out of you the forgotten artist. There is however a catch! It’s actually an awesome catch. You’ll be able to drink. Yesss! Isn’t that much more fun? Heck Yesss! Get social and Paint Under the Influence! We Love It!

Paint Nite, is Boston’s newest hottest activity—a must try! It’s a two hour event taking place at venues around town. A professional artist will be guiding you through each painting so that you can create your own masterpiece while you’re enjoying your favorite drink. You can either follow the step-by-step directions, or by all means go rogue and develop your own technique (some of us often do after the second drink).

How it works:

Start by dragging your lazy friends out. Then, go to PaintNite’s website. You can either browse by the date you and our friends prefer, or scroll through their numerous painting samples and pick the one that would most likely match your wall. Reserve your spots. Ranging in price is from $45-$65 per person. Paint Nite provides all painting supplies, including the canvas, easel, paints, brushes and an apron so you don't get dirty. Although we suggest that you do. It's more fun that way. Events last approximately two hours, at the end of which you get to take home your new masterpiece, a 16’’ by 20’’ canvas . Drinks and food to accompany the painting experience are purchased directly from the hosting restaurant or bar the night of the event.

Left: Dan Hermann, cofounder, Paint Nite; Rob Gronkowksi; Gronkowski’s friend Nate Ruckdaschel; Right: Sean McGrail, cofounder, Paint Nite. (Dan Aguirre). Photo: Courtesy of  Boston Globe.

History:

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it was founded in March 2012 by entrepreneurs Daniel Hermann and Sean McGrail and is now in more than 80 cities across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The core concept, PaintNite, offers consumers a creative twist on a night out at the bar where a local professional artist provides step-by-step guidance on how to create a painting. Every month, over 200 local artists host over 1,000 events at 650 venues and sell 35,000 tickets to unique live experiences. Paint Nite is about fostering a fun, low stress, non-judgmental environment that inspires everyone to enjoy the process of creating something from nothing. "It's an easy way to interact with other people," Hermann says. "You immediately have something to talk about, whether someone's painting is great or it's terrible. It lends itself to socialness."

For more visit www.paintnite.com

Try Boston's Empire Restaurant & Lounge!

 

 

Try this trendy, hot spot called Empire Restaurant & Lounge. This Asian restaurant is located in the Seaport district on Fan Pier. It has great nightlife as well as amazing food! The menu offers sushi, and cooked food including noodles, rice, and beef and chicken plates. This restaurant is so cool it has nine rooms that are each designed in a different way, and has an awesome bar & lounge to hang out with friends after your delicious meal! Empire offers V.I.P. services for it's nightlife bar & lounge, so make sure to take advantage of these services for your night on the town! 

 

 

You can't resist the great atmosphere and delicious food served here. Try the Chicken & Mushroom Dumplings, Salt & Pepper Calamari, or the Spicy Salmon Rice Bites! Anything on the menu will be amazing. The menu is a bit pricey, but either way if you have a nice big dinner, or just grab a few apps & drinks with your friends, it's guaranteed to be a great night!

 

 

Check out the events Empire has every week! Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays there is always some event going on. Monday November 24th, Empire is hosting a Holiday Punch Party with Cocktail Historian Dave Wondrich. The event starts at 8PM with NO COVER! How fun?!!

 

(Photo Credit: Big Night Entertainment Group)